Peace activists discuss Rohingya issue in Sweden

The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS) held a unique photo exhibition known as “The Vanishing Tribes of Burma” and an event, in Kägelbanan, Southern Theatre, Stockholm, Sweden, on 6-7 May. On the 7th May, the previous and current situation of Burma was discussed there.SONY DSC

Richard K. Diran, photographer who traveled to Burma / Myanmar for 25 years and met the indigenous peoples in different parts of the country, showed images of many ethnic groups of Burma. It is considerably regretful that Burmese government and the leader of Burmese opposition party Aung San Suu Kyi, who was invited as prime speaker, did not allow to show the images of Rohingya who have been long suffering, in the photo exhibition that was held previously in Yangon, he added.

Zin Mar Aung, a former political prisoner, Recipients of the International Women of Courage Award in 2012, from Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, briefed that the brutal Burmese militaristic rulers enacted repressive laws and imprisoned many innocent people who speak up against injustices and double standard policies. The women in particular are in most oppression in Burma, she continued.

Cin Khan Lian, Leader of a large civil society organization from the ethnic group in Zomi Chin State, founder of the organization Ar Yone Oo -Social Development Association and the only male member of the board of Women Organization Network, briefed on civil society involvement in peace-building and democratic processes in Burma. There is not yet real democracy in Burma and it is more important to focus the actual needs of Burmese oppressed people of every ethnic nationality who have been facing discrimination, he added.

Abul Kalam, the chairman of Swedish Rohingya Association and the welfare secretary of the European Rohingya Council (ERC), briefed on how the barbaric Burmese rulers exercise repression and violence against the Muslim population including Rohingya in Burma / Myanmar.

The Rohingya inside and abroad became illiterate gradually due to lack of higher educational chance – which is most inevitable to build up a society and the state-sponsored blockage makes them ill-brained. The international community should come forward with necessary steps without further delay to help vulnerable Rohingya so that Rohingya people can survive easily likewise other nationalities of this earth planet, he added.

Source: Burma Times

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